Multi-compartment resealable storage bag

ABSTRACT

A multi-compartment resealable storage bag including a number of storage compartments. Each storage compartment has a front portion, a back portion, a first side panel positioned to connect a first side of the front portion to a first side of the back portion; a second side panel positioned to connect a second side of said front portion to a second side of said back portion, a front portion opening end and a rear portion opening end configured to cooperate to define a sealable access opening. At least an adjacent two of the storage compartments share one of the panels. Resealable closures are configured to sealably close the sealable access opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority ofU.S. application Ser. No. 29/618,964 (BRAY003D), filed Sep. 26, 2017entitled MULTI-COMPARTMENT RESEALABLE AND REUSABLE STORAGE BAG WITHPANELS.

U.S. application Ser. No. 29/618,964 (BRAY003D), is acontinuation-in-part and claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No.29/572,627 (BRAY001D) filed Jul. 28, 2016 entitled MULTI-COMPARTMENTRESEALABLE STORAGE BAG.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priorityof U.S. application Ser. No. 29/618,956 (BRAY002D), filed Sep. 26, 2017is entitled MULTI-COMPARTMENT RESEALABLE AND REUSABLE STORAGE BAG.

U.S. application Ser. No. 29/618,956 (BRAY002D), is acontinuation-in-part of and claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No.29/572,627 (BRAY001D) filed Jul. 28, 2016 entitled MULTI-COMPARTMENTRESEALABLE STORAGE BAG.

U.S. application Ser. No. 29/572,627 (BRAY001D) is acontinuation-in-part of and claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No.15/097,243 (44930-501005US) filed on Apr. 12, 2016 entitledMULTI-COMPARTMENT RESEALABLE STORAGE BAG AND CONTAINER.

U.S. application Ser. Nos. 15/097,243; 29/572,627; 29/618,956; and29/618,964 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The subject matter described herein relates generally to a storageapparatus and, more particularly, to a multi-compartment resealablestorage bag having multiple storage compartments.

2. Description of the Related Art

Resealable storage bags can be used to store a variety of itemsincluding, for example, perishable items (such as food, snacks, and thelike) and non-food items (such as buttons, postage stamps, toys and thelike). Because conventional storage bags generally have a single storagecompartment, the variety of items that can be stored in these bagswithout mixing the items together is compromised. For example, whenstoring food a person may want to keep different types of perishables inseparate bags (such as miniature carrots and slices of pizza). The samecan also apply to the storage of household items (such as screws andnails). In order to accommodate the storage of these items, multiplestorage compartments may be needed in order to separate the differenttypes of items from each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a multi-compartmentresealable storage bag including a number of storage compartments. Eachstorage compartment has a front portion, a back portion, a first sidepanel positioned to connect a first side of the front portion to a firstside of the back portion; a second side panel positioned to connect asecond side of said front portion to a second side of said back portion,a front portion opening end and a rear portion opening end configured tocooperate to define a sealable access opening. At least an adjacent twoof the storage compartments share one of the panels. Resealable closuresare configured to sealably close the sealable access opening.

In another broad aspect, the present invention is embodied as amulti-compartment resealable storage bag including a number of storagecompartments. Each storage compartment has a front portion, a backportion, a first side panel positioned to connect a first side of thefront portion to a first side of the back portion; a second side panelpositioned to connect a second side of said front portion to a secondside of said back portion, a front portion opening end and a rearportion opening end configured to cooperate to define a sealable accessopening. At least an adjacent two of said plurality of storagecompartments share one of said panels. Resealable closures areconfigured to sealably close the sealable access opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, having zipper extensions, in aclosed position.

FIG. 2 shows the FIG. 1 embodiment in an open position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the zipperclosure of the FIG. 1 embodiment in the vicinity of the zipperextension.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, without zipper extensions, ina closed position.

FIG. 6 shows the FIG. 5 embodiment in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, including a seal formingsub-compartments and having two zippers on top and one zipper on bottom,in a closed position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, including a seal formingsub-compartments on both the top and the bottom, and having two zipperson top and one zipper on bottom, in a closed position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, having two pockets, one on topand one on the bottom, with the bottom pocket being in a closedposition.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment with a seal closure.

FIG. 11 is a view of another embodiment with a sliding closure.

FIG. 12 is a view of another embodiment with a Velcro closure.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment with an alternate zipper closure havingmaterial on both sides of the zipper.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of themultiple-compartment resealable storage bag having no sharp corners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference markedthereon, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of themulti-compartment resealable storage bag, designated generally as 10.The multi-compartment resealable storage bag 10 includes storagecompartments 12, 14, 16. Storage compartment 12 includes a front portion18 and a back portion 20. A first side panel 22 is positioned to connecta first side 24 of the front portion 18 to a first side 26 of the backportion 20. A second side panel 28 is positioned to connect a secondside 30 of the front portion 18 to a second side 32 of the back portion20. As can be best seen in FIG. 2, a front portion opening end 34 and arear portion opening end 36 are configured to cooperate to define asealable access opening 38. Storage compartment 14 has similar featuresas storage compartment 12. Thus, adjacent storage compartments 12, 14share the second side panel 28.

A resealable closure 40, in this case, a zipper closure 40, ispositioned at the top of the front portion opening end 34 and the top ofthe rear portion opening end 36 to define the sealable access opening38. In one preferred embodiment the resealable closure 40 extends beyondthe length of the front portion opening end 34 and the rear portionopening end 36 so as to provide enhanced expansion of the first sidepanel 22 and the second side panel 28.

The resealable closure 40 (i.e. zipper closure) may extend in someembodiments on one or more sides of the storage compartments, as shownby zipper extensions 42, 44 in FIGS. 1-3. Therefore, the zipperextensions 42, 44 provide extended expansion of the panels 22, 28, 46,48. This can be seen, for example, in FIG. 4. In other embodiments itmay extend on the other side of the storage compartments.

Each storage compartment 12, 14, 16 may be formed of a variety ofsuitable flexible material. A preferred material is a thin, flexible,plastic material. However the material may be, for example, hemp,cotton, cloth, burlap, mesh, nylon, neoprene, canvas, vinyl or laminatedmaterial. The storage compartments may be waterproof or moisture proof.The storage compartments can be made from high clarity polypropylene orother flexible, resilient and preferably translucent material. Using asubstantially translucent material, such as polypropylene, canfacilitate quick visual identification of the contents of the storagecompartment. Other potential materials may be, for example, low densitypolyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and Bisphenol A(BPA) free materials. Use of the various panels can keep items placed incompartments in their designated space and prevent these items fromshifting into other compartments.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, a second embodiment of the multi-compartmentresealable storage bag is illustrated in which there are no zipperextensions, designated generally as 50.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the multi-compartmentresealable storage bag is illustrated, designated generally as 70. Thisembodiment has two zippers 72, 74 on the top, and one zipper 76 on thebottom. Storage bag 70 includes a top storage compartment, designatedgenerally as 75, with a first sub-compartment 73 and a secondsub-compartment 77. Storage bag 70 includes a bottom storage compartment78 that extends the length of both sub-compartments 73, 77. A seal 79defines the separation of the first sub-compartment 73 and a secondsub-compartment 77.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a fourth embodiment of the multi-compartmentresealable storage bag is illustrated, designated generally as 80.Storage bag 80 includes sub-compartments 82, 84 on the bottom as well asthe top.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a fifth embodiment of the multi-compartmentresealable storage bag is illustrated, designated generally as 90. Thestorage bag 90 includes a top compartment 92 and a bottom compartment94. This embodiment provides more free space to put in larger items thanin the other embodiments. Having various embodiments with differenttypes of compartments provides the capability of organizing inaccordance with individual needs. For example, items such as toys can beput in certain compartments. Various types of food can be apportionedinto other compartments as to the user's convenience.

Referring now to FIG. 10, another embodiment is illustrated with aresealable closure comprising a press seal-type closure, designatedgenerally as 100.

Referring now to FIG. 11 a resealable closure comprising a sliding (alsoknown as a zip seal) closure is illustrated, designated generally as110.

FIG. 12 shows a hook-and-loop fastener (i.e. Velcro®), designatedgenerally as 120.

FIG. 13 shows a resealable closure comprising a zipper with materialpositioned on either side, designated generally as 130.

As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devisedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

For example, FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the multi-compartmentresealable storage bag with no sharp corners.

There can be a variety of configurations of storage compartments. Forexample, although the FIG. 1 embodiment shows two storage compartmentson top and one on the bottom of the multiple-compartment resealablestorage bag; and, the FIG. 8 embodiment shows two storage compartmentson top and two on the bottom of the multi-compartment resealable storagebag there can be many other variations.

1. A multi-compartment resealable storage bag, comprising: a) aplurality of storage compartments disposed within a multi-compartmentresealable bag, each storage compartment having a front portion, a backportion, a first side panel positioned to connect a first side of saidfront portion to a first side of said back portion, a second side panelpositioned to connect a second side of said front portion to a secondside of said back portion, a front portion opening end and a rearportion opening end configured to cooperate to define a sealable accessopening, wherein at least an adjacent two of said plurality of storagecompartments share one of said side panels; and, b) a plurality ofresealable closures configured to sealably close said sealable accessopening.
 2. The multi-compartment resealable storage bag of claim 1,wherein each storage compartment of said plurality of storagecompartments is formed of a flexible material selected from a groupconsisting of hemp, cotton, cloth, burlap, mesh, plastic, nylon,neoprene, canvas, vinyl, polyethylene and a laminated material.
 3. Themulti-compartment resealable storage bag of claim 1, wherein eachstorage compartment of said plurality of storage compartments is formedof a waterproof or moisture proof material.
 4. The multi-compartmentresealable storage bag of claim 1 wherein each resealable closure ofsaid plurality of resealable closures is selected from a group ofresealable closures consisting of a zipper closure, a press lock, amagnetic closure, a snap closure, and a heat seal.
 5. Themulti-compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein each storagecompartment of said plurality of storage compartments has a rectangularshape.
 6. The multi-compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein atleast one resealable closure of said plurality of resealable closuresextends beyond the length of said front portion opening end and saidrear portion opening end so as to provide enhanced expansion of saidfirst side panel and said second side panel.
 7. The multi-compartmentresealable bag of claim 1, wherein said plurality of storagecompartments comprises two storage compartments on a top portion thereofand two storage compartments on a bottom portion thereof.
 8. Themulti-compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofstorage compartments comprises two storage compartments on a top portionthereof and one storage compartment on a bottom portion thereof.
 9. Amulti-compartment resealable storage bag, comprising: a) a plurality ofstorage compartments disposed within a multi-compartment resealable bag,each storage compartment having a front portion, a back portion, a firstside panel positioned to connect a first side of said front portion to afirst side of said back portion, a second side panel positioned toconnect a second side of said front portion to a second side of saidback portion, a front portion opening end and a rear portion opening endconfigured to cooperate to define a sealable access opening, wherein atleast one of said storage compartments of said plurality of storagecompartments comprises a seal configured to define a separation of saidat least one of said storage compartments into at least a firstsub-compartment and a second sub-compartment; and, b) a plurality ofresealable closures configured to sealably close said sealable accessopening.